Sony unmasked Spider-Man 2 at 4,152 theaters, the second widest release of all time behind Shrek 2's 4,163. The launch eclipses the 3,615 debut of the first movie and casts a web across roughly 70% of the nation's theaters.

When Sony zeroed in on Independence Day week, they were, in effect, not trying to top the $114.8 million opening weekend record of the first Spider-Man. The frame's previous highs were 2002's Men in Black II with $52.1 million, or, taking ticket price inflation into account, Independence Day with an adjusted $70 million. Whenever July 4 lands on a weekend, as it does this year, it tends to put a dent in the weekend gross. May is the month for a movie gunning for weekend honors.

What the holiday allows is potent business spread out to weekdays, not just Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The average Fourth of July Wednesday debut can rack up 40% or more of its five-day opening from Wednesday and Thursday alone. With that in mind, Spider-Man 2 could likely top The Matrix Reloaded's $144.4 million five-day, $151.9 million six-day and $158.2 million opening week records—without the severe front-loadedness that movie suffered.

Meanwhile, Fahrenheit 9/11 added 316 theaters (a 36% boost) for a total of 1,184, but still saw business dip in the face of Spider-Man 2. The Michael Moore op-ed documentary was down 12% to an estimated $3.35 million on Wednesday, lifting its tally to $35.7 million. Picture invades another 541 theaters on Friday for a total of 1,725.